Samba completes club record £12.5m move to QPR from Russian side Anzhi

Christopher Samba has completed his move to QPR for a club record £12.5million.

The defender's release clause at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala was met, and paid up front, yesterday and he jetted in for a medical this morning.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp said on Thursday morning: 'Samba has signed and that is a massive signing for us. That is the key one.

High five: Christopher Samba has completed his move to Queens Park Rangers from Russia

'He has passed his medical. He was having that last night so it shouldn’t be a problem.'

It has emerged that Samba was advised by his lawyer that he was in his rights to walk out on Russian club Anzhi Makhachkalai after they disputed the terms of his £11million-plus release clause in his contract triggered by the QPR bid.

This might explain why Samba upset the Russian club manager Guus Hiddink by not saying goodbye to anyone when he left for London.

The towering centre back took to Twitter after the club confirmed the deal, writing: 'I promise the QPR fans I will give my all every time I put the blue and white shirt on.

'Now I'm excited to joins the new team-mates and try to help the club remain in the league and more.

'My reason for leaving is to be closer to my family and my 2 little boys.'

Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink has conceded defeat in his bid to hold on to Samba.

Hiddink said: 'He left for England yesterday. I hope that today or tomorrow we'll find out what has really happened.

'It's a shame to talk about this but he didn't even say goodbye, he didn't explain anything to us.

'Whatever happens to you, you should take into account the people with whom you work.

First training session: Samba was pictured at the club's Harlington training ground

'It's not a great situation for us.
He started the pre-season camps with us but then suddenly in the last
few days he started to make contact with England, that's despite still
being on contract with Anzhi.'

Samba has been signed in time to make his debut
in the must-win Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich this weekend.

He was a previous target for Redknapp
when he was Tottenham manager but moved to the Russian side almost a year ago after
being offered a huge financial package. Samba's family still live in England and the 28-year-old has been keen to return.

Rangers are desperate for central defenders as Ryan Nelsen played his final game in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City on Tuesday evening and will move to Toronto this week. Anton Ferdinand has gone to Turkey on loan at Bursaspor.

Redknapp told www.qpr.co.uk: 'This is an unbelievable signing.

'Tony Fernandes (the QPR chairman) deserves a lot of credit for this one – he has worked so hard on bringing him in.

'I was speaking with him a month ago and he asked me who I would want to sign if Ryan Nelsen left, he asked me to give him a couple of names.

'I said to him, "Well, these aren’t possible to get but if you’re asking me who I’d have, I’ll give you a couple of players." One of them was Chris Samba.

'The next thing I know he’s telling me that he’s working on bringing him in! It’s amazing.

'Chris is just what we need. He’s a monster. Great in the air, quick, a leader, strong, fantastic in both boxes, hard as nails. He’s a proper centre half.'

On the move: Alejandro Faurlin looks set to leave QPR on loan

Meanwhile, QPR have given Alejandro Faurlin permission to speak to Palermo over a loan move.

The 26-year-old is one a handful of survivors from the Rangers side that secured the Championship title in 2011.

However, the midfielder could now be off to the Serie A side until the end of the season, although it is understood the deal is not with a view to a permanent move.

QPR have been one of the most active clubs this month, with Loic Remy, Tal Ben Haim and Yun Suk-young all arriving at Loftus Road.

Several players have also left the club in January, with Ferdinand, Djibril Cisse and Rob Hulse amongst those loaned out.

QPR, who also tried but failed in a bid to sign Portugal defender Bruno Alves from Zenit St Petersburg, are continuing talks over a £6.5m deal for Stoke striker Peter Crouch. Stoke manager Tony Pulis has opted against taking Jamie Mackie as a makeweight.